Decoding apparatus



' March 6, 192's) 1,661,637

A. J. SORENSEN DECODING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORZ kl-W,

Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. SORENSEN, or wILKInsBURo, rErrnsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION swrrrorr & sreixiancoiurnur; or swrssvALE, PENNSYLVANIA, AoonPonA rroN or PENNSYLVANIA.

DECODING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,257.

My invention relates to decoding apparatus.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmental view, partly diagrammatic showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail View of a portion of the contact mechanism for use with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. l is a diagrammatic.View of one form of governing means suitable for co-operation with the apparatus shown in the preceding figures. F 5 is a chart illustrating the position of certain parts 01'' my apparatus under various operating conditions. y

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views,

Referring first to F ig. 1, the reference character F designates a. relay which may be supplied with current in any suitable manner in the form of code impulse combinations consisting of short impulses of current separated by time intervals. As shown in Fig. 5 code number one consists of. groups composed of single impulses separated by time intervals. Code. number two consists of groups of two impulses each, the impulses being separated by short intervals and the groups by lol-iger intervals, Codes three and tour (21 usist of groups of three and tour impulses respectively, and spaced as in code number two. For the purposes of this specification I will assume that the length of each impulse and of the intervals between impulses in a group is one-fourth of a. second, and that the length of the intervals between groups of impulses is one second.

The relay F has a contact 13 which controls the circuits for two parallel connected magnets M and M These magnets are at times supplied with current from a suitable source, here shown as a generator G, and are arranged to operate a selector comprising a pivoted cont-act controlling lever 15 which is provided at its lower end with a plurality of teeth 19. This lever is fastened on a sleere 15 (see Fig. 2) and is free to rotate of a sleeve 16 is a driving segment 16 provided with two sets of teeth 17 and 18. In its normal position the segment 16 abuts a stop E as shown in the drawing. lVhen current impulses are beii igsupplicd to the relay F the segment 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction by means of the magnet M. This magnetconsists of a yoke 20, a core 21 carrying a winding 22, and an armature 23. The armature 23 is attracted whenever the magnet is energized and causes a driving pawl 24 to engage one of the teeth 17 thereby rotating the segment 16 through a predetermined distance. The driving pawl 24 is pivotally secured at 25 to the armature 23 so that when the armature 2 3 is released the pawl may rotate upwardly about the pivot 25 and, escape the teeth 17 on the segment 1G. The segment 16 normally ongages a pin P which is secured at one end to an arcuate arm 26 and at the other end to a similar arm 28 (see 2). lVhen the seg-. ment 16 moves, it actstfhrough the pin P to swing arm 26 in a clockwise direction, and when the magnet M is (lo-energized a latch 29 which is secured to the armature 23 engages one of the of the teeth 27.011 the arm 26 so that this arm can be held in an advanced position. The member 28 carries, a second pin P which is rigidly secured thereto in such position that when the-segment 16 has been rotated by :1 singleimpulse being supplied tothe magnet M, the pin will just engage the lever more willnot rotateit in a clockwise direction unless the segment 16 receives two or more impulses in. succession.

In order to prevent the lever 15 from returning to its initial position between separate impulses of a code impulse combination, I provide the second magnet M This magnet has a smaller air gap than the magnet M and therefore attracts its armature 23 more quickly than does magnet M so that when a code impulse is supplied to the relay F the magnet M will lift its armature before magnet M lifts its armature. The magnet M is also made slow-releasing by means of a closed conducting sleeve 21, so that it will hold its armature up between impulses in av group but will not bridge the interval between separate groups; The

armature 23 of magnet M carries two latches 30 and 31, and in its tie-energized position it engages a. stop B. The latch 30 is adapted to engage teeth 19 on the lever 15 whenever magnet M is energized. In a similar manner the latch 31 engages teeth 18 on the driving segment 16. It will now be clear that when code number two con s sting of two impulses in a group is supplied to relay F, the segment 16 will be ad vanced twice by the two successive engagements of the pawl H with the first and second teeth. respectively, of a segment. YVhen the first impulse is supplied to the magnet M the segment 16 will be rotated, and at the same time energization of the magnet M will cause the latches 3t) and 31 to engage the members 15 and 1e respectively. This impulse causes the pin P to engage the lever 15, but the lever is not advanced until the second impulse is supplied to the magnet- M. During the interval. between the two impulses the latch 31 will engage the second tooth 18 on the segment ltl and will prevent the segment from rcturning to its zero position against the stop E, and will bridge the one-fourth second interval so that when the second impulse is supplied to the magnet M the pawl Q-l will engage the second tooth 17 on the segment 16 and will therefore rotate the segment until the latch 31 engages the third tooth 18 of this segment and latch 30 engages the second tooth 19 on the lever 15. \Vhen the magnet M is tie-energized following the receipt of the second impulse the latch :29 will engage the third tooth 27 of thearm 26 so as to hold the lever 15 in its advanced position when the magnet M (lo-energized.

The manner in which the contacts are controlled by the lever 15 will be understood from the illustration in Fig. 3. {eferring now to this view the lever 15 has a portion 32 (see also Fig. 2) which is bent over at right angles to the lever and carries thereon a contact supporting member 23:} of insulatin; material which is secured to the lever by suitable fastening means T3. The member 3 carries two flexible contact lingers Eli and 35 and two rigid contact fingers 3G and 37. Contact linger 31 carries two contactpoints 38 and it) which are arranged to cooperate with other contact-points 39 and 41.. respectively. 38 and 239 being designated generally by reference character I), and it) and -11 by K Contact-point 39 is secured to a fised support 4L2. this support being fastened to a portion of the frame of the device which has been omitted from the drawing. for the sake of simplicity. The contactpointll is secured to the rigid contact tinger 36. In a similar manner the contact linger 35 carries two contact-points l3 and 71- which are adapted to cooperate. respectively. with a contact-point it on the linger 37 and a contact-point at?) which is secured to the frame of the machine by 11111115 of :1

but when the member 15 is rotated in cloclrwise direction far enough to open contact l the resilienov of the linger ill will cause contact K to close. hen code number one consisting of one impulse in each group is supplied to the relay F the contact I. re mains closed because the lever 1.1 not moved from its initial position. \Vhcnevcr code impulse combinations consisting of groups of two or more impulses are supplied to the magnet M. the contact l is opened and the contact K is Cl(l ((i. the coniact It remaining closed until the lever 15 has rotated far enough to came contact if to close, thereby openinp the contact h. The lever 15 is biased to the position shown in the drawing by means of a counter-weiuh!v \V which causes contact L to be closed when this lever is not held by the pin l or by latch 30.

For the purpose of controlling other contacts I provide a contact supporting memb r l? composed of insulating material and pivotally mounted on the shaft 14-. The member 47 is biased to the position shown. by means of a counter-weight Z, and carries a flexible contact linger l8 and a rigid conta t linger -19. The linger 18 carries two contactpoints 50 and 53 which are adapted to cooperate with two contact-points m and 5-1. respectively. to form contacts l. and li respectively. The contact-point 5], is secured to a support 52 on the frame of the machin while the contact-point 54- is secured to the rigid contact linger ll). Whenever code impulse combinations coin-tisting of groups of three or more impulses are supplied to the magnet M the lever 15 is rotated far enough to cause a projecting arm :11: on ihc comm-i supporting member l to engage the member 47 and rotate it in a clockwise directionv lVhcn the member -17 rotated through a slight angle the contact l. is opens-d and due to the resiliency ol contact linger in th contact-points 53 and 5:4 engage to close the contact K It will now be clear that when code number one is supplied to relay F the contacts L if and K are closed. when coal number two is supplied contacts K If and K" are closed. when number three is supplied to the relay F. contacts K. K and K are closed. and that when code munber four is. supplied. contacts K. It and l. are closed. The operation of these contacts is set forth in detail in Fig.

Referring now to Fig. l the arnn'iture of magnet M operates a contact bar 58 which controls two slow-release relays it and R TWhen the magnet is cnergizml. the rela It is energized over a circuit from a suitable source of current, here shown as a generator is lighted.

G, through wires 54 and 55, winding of relay R wire 56,contact 57-58 and wire 59 back to the negative terminal of the generator. hen the magnet M is deenergized the relay R is energized over a circuit from the generator G through wires 54 and 55, winding of relay R wire 60, contact 6158 of magnet M and wire 59 back to the generator. The relays R and R are made slow-releasing so that they are capable of holding their contacts closed between the Separate groups of impulses, that is, they are capable of holding their contacts closed for a period slightly more than one second, therefore, when code impulse combinations are being supplied to the relay F so that magnet M is being periodically energized and de-energized, the relays R and R will constantly hold their front contacts 62 and 64, respec tively, in closed position. If current is be ing continuously supplied to the relay F so that the magnet M is constantly energized, the relay R will hold its front contact 64 closed and relay R will be deenergized. Under this condition a lamp S will be encrgized over a circuit from the positive terminal of the generator Gr through wire 5st, lamp S, back contact 63 of'relay 1 and wire 67 to the negative terminal of the generator. When no current is being supplied to the relay F so that the magnet M remains d e-energized, the relay R is continuously energized, but relay R is (lo-energized, and so a lamp 8 is lighted over a circuit from the positive terminal of the generator Gr, through wire 54, lamp S", back contact of relay R wire 68, front contact 62 of relay R and wire 67 to the negative terminal of the generator The relaysR and R co-operate with the contacts operated by he lever 15 to control four lamps S S S and S, respectively. The exponent applied to the reference character for each lamp corresponds to the numeral of the code given in Fig. 5, which must be supplied to the relay F to light the lamp. For example, when code one is supplied to the relay F, lamp S is lighted. The circuit for the lamp S under these conditions is from the positive terminal of the generator G through wires 54and 69, lamp S contact L contact finger 34, wire 70, contact L contact finger 35, wire 71, front contact 64: of relay R wire 68, frontcontact '62 of relay R and wire 67 back to the negative terminal of the generator. \Vhen code two is supplied to the relay F contacts K L and K are closed so that the lamp S is lighted over a circuit which will be obvious from the drawing. Similarly when code three is supplied .to the relay F, contacts K K and K are closed so that the lamp S is lighted. When code four is supplied to the relay F the contacts K K and L are closed so that the lamp S t will now be clear that by solecting the desired code which is to supply current to the relay F any one of the lamps S, S etc., may be lighted.

In describing the operation of the apparatus I will assume that code number one .is being supplied to the relay F. \Vith the parts in the positions shown in the drawing the segment 16 occupies its zero position engagingthe stop E. The lever 15 occupies such position that the contact L is closed, and is held in this position by the counterweight VV, and the arm 26 occupies a position in which the latch 29 on armature 9-3 of magnet M engages the first notch 27 of this arm. The contact L prevents the lever 15 from being moved in a counter-clockwise direct-ion. The pin P in the arm 26 engages the segment 16 and the magnet M is (lo-energized so that the rela R is energized and lamp S is lighted. The first im pulse of code number one supplied to relay F will energize this relay causing it to close its front contact and thereby completing a circuit for the magnets M and M WVhen these magnetsai'e energized the armature 23 of magnet l.\f 1 will be raised first, bringing latches 30 and 31 into contact with the teeth of lever .15 and segment 16, respectively. Immediately after the energization of magnet M the armature 23 of magnet M will be raised, causing the pawl 9A to engage the first tooth 17 of the segment 16 and so to rotate the segment a short distance. Since the pin P is in engagement with this segment, the arm 26 will also be rotated and will be held in its advanced position by latch 29 engaging the second tooth 27 of the arm 26 when magnet M becomes (ls-energized. During the time in which magnet M is dropping its armature 23 to lock'the arm 26 in its advanced position, the magnet M holds its armature 23 up because this magnet is slow-releasing, and so the latch 31 will be held in engagement with the second tooth i 18 of segment 16 until the latch 29 engages the arm 26. After slightly more than onefourth of a second has elapsed the armature 28 of magnet M will be released, latch 31 will release segment 16 and this segment will return to zero position under the influence of gravity, the arm 26 being held in its advanced position by the latch 29. hen one second has elapsed another impulse will be supplied to the relay F and the sequence of operations just described will be repeated. The alternate energization and de-energization of magnet M by the impulses of code number one will operate the contacts 57-'58 and6158 so that relays R and R will hold their front contacts 62 and Get, respectively, closedas long as this code is supplied to relay F. .Contacts L and L will both, be

closed so that lamp S will remain lighted. I .w1llnext assume that .code number two is supplied ltO the relay F. When the first l lll lit ill)

impulse is supplied to the relay, the magnet M becomes energized and pawl 24: on armature 2 engages the filFt tooth 17 of the segment 16 and rotates this segment through a emall angle. the segment being prevented from returning to its initial position by the latch 31 engaging the second tooth 18 ot the segment. When armature Q?) releases. the latch 29 engages the second tooth 27 on the arm 2o so that this arm is held in its: ad- 'anced position. 'hen the second impulse of the group is supplied to the magnet ill the pawl. 12% engages the second tooth 17 of the segment 1t) and again rotates this segment until the latch ll engages the third tooth 18 ot' the segment and the latch tltl engage; the eecond tooth 19 0t lever 15,

the lever l having been moved from its initial position during the second impulse oi the groups; by the engagement of the pin 1 with this lever. During the one second interval following the first. group. the armature 12 3 of magnet M is released and latch 29 engages the third tooth on arm 2t; holding this arm in its advanced position. The magnet M holds its armature 23 autliciently long to prevent the lever 1.5 from returning to its; initial position before the latch 25) engagtri the arm Ltl.

As soon as magnets M and M releaee their armaturee, the t-xegment it returns to its initial position againat the stop i it the end of the one second interval the first impulse of the next group causea magnets 1i and M to piclc up and latch tltl engages the aecond tooth 1!) on lever 15, preventing this lever tron: dropping back when latch 25) releai--e: arm it Segment 1G is again advanced two ateps. and latch 31 prevents it from returning between the impulses. hatch ill) holds the. lever 15 in its advance powilion when latel 2!) in releaecd by energiration ol magnet ill and so the contacts operated by lever 17 do not change their po:--ition during either the long or the short intervals in the code. As long as thi code is supplied to the relay. the lever 15 will occupy its tirst. advanced position in which the. contact L is opened and the contact K is closed. Contact. If is also closed, and so the lamp lighted.

When the relay F receives: code number three consisting of groups of three impulses, the operation of the apparatus will be similar to the operation just described in connection with code number two, with the exception that with the three impulses the segment. 16 will be ad anced three time so that the latch 23) controlled by magnet M will engage the fourth tooth 27 on arm 26 and will hold the lever 15 in'such position that contacts K K and K are closed lighting the lamp S.

If code number four is supplied to the relay F the segment 16 is advanced four times so that at the end of one group of impulses the latch 29 engages the fifth tooth QT of arm 2t] and the lever 15 is held in Hlch position that contacts K, K" and L are closed. \Vith lie/5'20 contacta clo ed the lamp S will l'e l ghted.

It will be understood that it in changing from one code to another the lirrt group of impulses in the new code follows the last group of impulses in the old code without a time inter 'al of one second, the segment 16 will by advanced according to the number of impulses which magnet .li receives. but at the end of the group it will return to its position. against-t stop I) and on the next series ot impulses will be advanced the proper distance no that. lever 15 will talie its position according to the ne v code. My arrangement therefore insures that a proper indication will be given in accordance with the code supplied to the relay.

The appa ratus herein described is euitable. tor. though in no way limited to, use in automatic train control nystcnm in which train carried governing meana in controlled by current: impul e-s received l'rom the tracltway. In 7)'. t't*1115 of this: character current supplied to the track rails in the form of code impulse combinations, as shown in Fig. 5, is picked up by apparatus on the train. and is supplied to decoding apparatus arranged to control governing means in any suitable manner.

Although I have herein shown and described only one :lorm of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having tllttrs described 1n invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination. a relay at. times supplied with ditl'erent code impulae combiuations. a Helector associated with said relay comprising a first movable member biased to a normal position. a econd and a third movable members, means for ad 'ancing the tir.-:t member from its normal position for each impulse supplied to the relay, means, l'or holding the that member in its ad 'anced position between successive impulses in a combination but releueing it be'ween combinations, means whereby the second member always follows the ad 'ance movements of the first membe' and also follows its return movements unless restrained. means for rest'aining the econd member in its adanced position between impulse combinations but releasing it during the lllllJlllELrS ot a combination, means whereby the third member alvays follows the advance movcmenta of the second member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same th'i ltll) iiii periods as the first member, a plurality of contacts variably controlled by the dill'erent positions of the third member, and governing means controlled by said contacts.

52. In combination, a relay at times supplied with ditlerent code impulse combinations, a selector associated with said relay comprising a first movable member biased to a normal position, a second and a third movable members, means for adinincing the first member from its normal position for each impulse supplied to the relay, means for holding the first member in its advanced position between successive impulses in a combination but releasing it between combinations, means whereby the second member always follows the advance movements of the first member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the second member in'its advanced position between impulse combinations but releasing it during the impulses of a combination, means whereby the third member always follows the advance move ments of the second member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same periods as the first member, and governing means controlled by said third member.

3. In combination, a relay at times supplied with dillerent code impulse combinations, a selector associated with said relay comprising a first movable member biased to a normal position, a second and a third movable members, means for advancing the first member from its normal position for each impulse supplied to the relay, means for holding the first member in its advanced position between successive impulses in a combination but releasing it between combinations, means whereby the second member always follows the advance movements of the first member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the second member in its advanced position between impulse combinations but releasing it during the impulses ot a combination, means whereby the third member always follows the advance movements of the second member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same periods as the first member, a pair of slow release relays cont-rolled by said means for advancing the first member, and governing means controlled jointly by said third member and said slow release relays.

l. In combination, a selector supplied at times with different code impulse combinations and comprising a first movable member biased to a normal position, a second and a third movable members, means for advancing the first member from its normal position for each impulse supplied to the selector, means for holding the hrst member in its advanced position between successive impulses in a combination but releasing it between combinations, means whereby tlr second member always follows the advance movements of the first member and also fol lows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the second member in its advanced position between impulse combinations but releasing it during the inn pulses of a combination, means whereby the third member always follows the advance movements of the second member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same periods as the first member, and governing means controlled by said third member.

5. In con'ibination, a selector supplied at times with ditlerent code impulse combinations and comprising a first movable member biased to a normal position, a second and a third movable members, means for advancing the first member from its normal posi tion for each impulse supplied to the selector, means for holding the first member in its advanced position between successive impulses in a combination but releasing it between combinations, means whereby I the second member always follows the advance movements of the first member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means tor restraining the second. member in its advanced position between impulse combinations but releasing it during the impulses of a combination, means whereby the third member always tollows the advance movements of the second member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same periods as the first member, a plurality of contacts variably controlled by the dift'erent positions of said third member, and governing means controlled by said contacts.

6. In combination, a selector supplied at times with different code impulse combinations and comprising a first movable member biased. to a normal position, a second and a third movable members, means for advancing the first member from its normal position for each impulse supplied to the selector, means for holding the first member in its advanced position between successive impulses in a combination but releasing it between combinations, means whereby the second member always follows the advance movements of the first member and also tollows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the second member in its advanced position between impulse combinations but releasing it during the impulses of a combination, means whereby the third member always follows the advance movements of the second member and also follows its return movements unless restrained, means for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same periods as the first member, a pair of slow release relays controlled by said means for advancing the first: member, and governing means controlled jointly by said third member and the slow release relays.

T. In combination. a selector comprising" a quick-releasing magnet and a slow-releasing magnet, which magnets are at times supplied with impulse combinations, a first movable member biased to a normal position. a second and a third movable members, means controlled by said quick-releasing magnet for advancing the first member from its normal position for each impulse supplied to the selector means controlled by said slowreleasing magnet for holding the first member in its advanced position between successive impulses in a combination but releasing it between combinations, means whereby the second member always follows the advance movements of the first member and also follows its return movements unless restrained means for restraining the second member in its advanced position be tween impulse combinations but releasing it; during; the impulses of? a (fmHlJiHfllllOH. means whereb the third memb al 'ays foL lows the advance movements of the second member and also follows its return movements unless rest-rained, means controlled by said slow-releasing magnet for restraining the third member in its advanced position during the same periods as the first; member. and governing means controlled by said third member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDREW J. SORENSIIN. 

